Who Will Lead Us?

"Who Will Lead Us? brilliantly demonstrates that the remarkable resurrection of Hasidism has been due to its capacity for maintaining the charismatic authority of its dynastic leadership. This is by far the most insightful study of the social, economic, and political dynamics of Hasidim today."--Ada Rapoport-Albert, Professor Emerita of Jewish Studies at University College London "What happens to dynasties when they meet America? This is a fascinating tale of the struggles over succession that plague today's Hasidic communities. Told with a richness of detail and insider knowledge that only Samuel Heilman could muster."--Art Green, Professor Emeritus of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies at Brandeis University "Once again, Samuel Heilman has opened the opaque world of contemporary Hasidism to his readers. With a rare blend of historical depth and sociological breadth, he offers up five case studies that explore the fraught process of leadership transition in Hasidic courts. This is a gripping story about Hasidic Jews, but it is also about religious leadership more generally in the modern age."--David Myers, Sady and Ludwig Kahn Professor of Jewish History at UCLA